Spring construction



1933. w. B. FOSTER 1,395,429

SPRING CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 2, 1950 INVENTOR 43. amt

ATTORNEYS mam' Patented Jan. 24, 1933 UNITED STATES'PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. FOSTER, F UTICA, NEW YORK, ASSTGNOR T0 FOSTER BROTHERS MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF UTICA, NEW YORK SPRING CONSTRUCTION Application filed January 2, 1930. SerialNo. 417,958.

This invention relates to coiled spring structures or coiled spring assemblies meaning to include thereby such coiled spring structures as are used for spring cushions, spring-filled mattresses, bed springs and the like.

Myinvention has for its purpose the providing of an improved and novel arrangementand form of such articles and particularly to provide a construction wherein the end coils of the springs are equipped with over-lapping offset portions connected by spiral wire threaded thereonto so as to form a hinged connection between adjacent springs- A further purpose is to provide a construction of the type indicated where the coiled springs may be easily formed and rapidly connected by hand or even by machinery by the use of the said spiral wire and to so form the parts and assemble the same that a flexible but very strong and durable spring structure is secured.

been that the joints allow too Another object of the invention is to provide a construction of the class indicated of such form and combination of its parts that the overlapping oifsets will be securely and permanently held and maintained in said overlapping" relation within the spiral wire and will be prevented from reversing their position within the spiral wire and also prevented from piling; and further to provide a joint of the construction referred to wherein the overlapping oifset parts of adjoining connected springs will be prevented from overlapping to a greater extent than desired and also will be prevented from straightening out or separating from the original overlapping position, and also to prevent relative movement of the springs and spiral wire lengthwise of the spiral wire.

Heretof'fore one of the disadvantages of joints made with the use of spiral wire has much expansion or contraction at the joints and that such. loose motion has prevented the satisfactory use of,

spring structures of this type where the total width of the spring structure should be definite and permanent such as in a bed spring or the filling for a spring mattress. The overcoming of such disadvantages and the having their end coils length of spiral wire.

providing of a spring structure which will permanently retain its width free from either expansion or contraction and from piling is the further aim of this invention.

Further purposes and advantages will appear from the specification and claims herein.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of apart of a spring structure embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view on a considerably eniarged scale of one of the joints shown in Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and, 5 are sectional views somewhat I therethrough are oppositely arranged, that is pro ect towards each other and with the OE- sets of a. pair of connected. springs in overlapping engagement and connected by a. spiral wire 14 threaded upon the overlapping offsets of the two springs.

While my invention as indicated by certain I of the claims'hereinmay be applied in a. unit having only two adjacent springs with their ofl'sets connected by such spiral wire, yet in the full and ordinary embodiment of the invention there will be a considerable number of coiled springs arranged in two or more rows extending transversely or longitudinally of the cushion or other spring structure and with the springs in adjacent rows oppositely arranged preferably at regular intervals, and with the springs of each adjoining pair of rows connected by a long In Fig. 1 a part of is a sectional view on line 77 of set portion generally denoted by the outwardly from the spring which is likewise 7 right angles to each. other and also such a larger construction is shown but it will be apparent that the same joint and same overlapping feature is present in the two-spring unit such as is illustrated in Figs. 2 and f6.

Referring first more particularly to the constructionshown in Figs. 1 to 5 it will be seen that each spring is provided with an 0&-

numeral 13, projectingl towards anot er spring provided with such an ofiset portion 13 and that the two offsets engage each other in overlapping position. In the construction shown in detail in Figs. 1to 5, the ofiset por-v tion generally denoted by the numeral 13 is composed of a central portion 13" and two end portions 13" and 13, which end portions extend outwardly from the end coil 12rather abruptly while the central portion 13 extends the desired distance in a gentle curve or crowned shape.

Preferably in all forms of this invention the two connected and overlapping ofiset portions 13 brought into one joint will vary in length. For instance as shown in Fig. 2, three turns of the spiral wire are enclosed on the inner side of the offset 13 of the right hand spring while the offset of the left hand spring is enough longer to contain on its inner side four turns of said spiral wire. This arrangement of one oflset portion of a pair being longer than the other offset portion by the from one turn to another of spiral wire allows of the springs being connected accurately in intersecting rows at aids in securing the full benefit of the overlapping joint and aids in so placing and assembling the parts at the joint so that the joint will be permanently held with the offset parts overlapping and free from expansion or contraction, and also aids in keeping the joint parts in place lengthwise of the spiral wire.

Referring to the construction shown in Figs. 6 to 9 it will be seen that the offset parts are held in overlapping position by the spiral wire and that the offset portion from the left hand spring is longer than the offset rtion of the right hand spring. The modii iiiation shown in these fi consists in a modification of the form of the offset from the ri ht hand spring. In this construction the o set of said right hand spring consists of one substantially similarly curved portion having a radius preferably less than that of the crowned portiorfof the offset of the left hand spring and very much less than the radius of the end coil12 of the right hand spring itself. In other words, the offset of the right hand spring isformed by one section of a:

circle extended out from. the main circle of the end coil 12 without thefcentral portion being flatter than the endportions.

all forms of the joint used in this 1nvention it be seen that the interior di ameter of the spiral wire-14 is appreciably more than twice the diameter of the wire used in the coil sprin s and the ofisets thereof so as to allow the 0 set portions of two springs brought into a joint to pass one another to a greater or less extent as seen in the central transverse sectional views Figs. 3 and 7. It will be obvious that the center of the two wires of a pair of offsets must be past each other on this central transverse section and preferably the central portions of the offsets will be slightly but bodily past each other as shown in Figs. 2'and 3 and Figs. 6 and 7.

The oifset portions 13 of any of the different forms are so shaped, curved, formed and proportioned relative to the size and turns of the section of spiral wire threaded over said overlapping offsets that'the overlapping oflset portions will be permanently retained in said overlapping position.

In other words each ofiset will be so proportioned relative to its section of the/spiral y wire within which it is placed as to engage at different parts of its length the opposite interior sides of the spiral wire and thus keep the offset from moving to any considerable extent laterally within the spiral wire. For instance-the offset portion 13 of the right hand spring in Fig. 2- will engage the interior surface of the spiral wire 14 towards the left at the two points 16-16 where twov turns of the spiral wire are engaged by the outerand somewhat upper surface of the central'portion 13 of this oifset as shown particularly in Fig. 3. While the more abrupt-' ly slanting end portions 13 and 13 of the offset will engage towards the right at points 17 and 18 respectively the two spaced turns of the spiral wire as appears in Fig. 2 and in Figs. 4 and 5 respectively. The engagementat points 17 and 18 on the inner side of the relatively rigid offset 13 by contacting the opposite sides of two spaced of the spiral wire 14 will prevent relative lateral movement of-this ofiset farther towards the right relative to the spiral wlre 14, and will prevent movement of the offset in either direction lengthwise of the spiral wire.

Similarly the relative lateral position oi the lower and longer oflset of the left hand spring and its position lengthwise of the spiral wire will be maintained by engagement of the outer or right-hand side of the central portion 13 with the interior surface of the adjacent right-hand side of one turn of the spiral wire as at point 19 as appears in F1gs.' 2 and 3 and by engagement at the widely-' spaced points' 20 and 21' respectively where the interior surface of the left-hand the spiral wire is engaged with the 0 set 13, point 20 being near the unction of the ceritral portion 13 and the end portion 13" and point 21 being near the junction ofthe central portion 13" and the other end portion art of.

13. These contacting points appear in Figs.

2, 4 and 5. It will be understood of course that the two separate ofisets will be held in fairly close 5 engagement with their respective parts of the spiral wire by the fact that the two offsets brought together in one joint overlap so that each offset keeps the other in its own half of the circular space within the spiral wire.

hand spring is assembled as shown in the drawing below the offset from the right hand spring, said offset from the left hand spring will keep the ofi'set of the right hand spring always in the upper half of the interior space of the spiral wire and in turn the offset from the right hand spring will permanently keep the offset from the left hand spring in the lower half of the interior of the spiral wire.

It is to be noted, however, that the engagement of the two offsets at a joint with each other and with the encircling spiral wire is not so tight but that the desired amount of pivotal or hinging action between the two springs may take place but the contact is tight enough and constantly maintained so that there is no noise from such pivotal or hinging movement.

It will be apparent that in the modified form of joint shown in Figs. 6 to 9, the offset 13 from the left hand spring is of the same form and detailed description and operation as the same part shown in Figs. 1 to 5 and that the offset from the right hand spring is mechanically the equivalent of and will operate in the same way as the offset from the right hand spring in Figs. 2-5 already described. l he one continuous curve used in this offset of Figs. 6-9 will result in two points of contact 16' at the left hand side of the spiral as shown in Fig. 7 and in two spaced points of contact 17' and 18 as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 respecti ely. These oppositely arranged and spaced points of contactwill maintain the relative lateral position between the ofiset of the said right hand spring and the enclosing ortion of the spiral wire and the other 0 set at that joint, and will also maintain the spiral wire and the offset in proper position against relative movement lengthwise of the spiral wire.

It will be noted that the overlapping ofi'sets at any joint are tied together by the spiral wire as far as vertical movement is concerned 55 so that each spring is directly reenforced at eachof these joints by the adjacent spring which operates to distribute local weight or strain over a larger area of the spring structure and increase the life, usefulness and comfort of the spring. This tying together of the springs at these connected ofi'sets however is efi'ectedthrough the encircling spiral wire and in such a way that a pivotal jointis maintained so that the spring structure is 65 still properly flexible sothat the structure That is assuming that the offset of the left It will be observed that of the turns of the spiral wire within the offset from the right hand spring at any joint, the opposite end turns engage quite closely the adjacent opposite inner sides of the end parts of the ofl'set and so maintain this springand the spiral wire from relative movement lengthwise of the spiral wire and that similarly of the'turns of the spiral wire within the oifset of the left hand spring the opposite end turns are quite close to the adjacent opposite inner sides of the end parts of this offset and so maintain this left hand spring and the spiral wire from relative movement lengthwise of the spiral wire. This co-operation of the parts is further aided and made permanent by said spiral wire enclosing both ofi'sets at a joint so that both springs are held in desired position relative to each other, viz: free from movement lengthwise of the'spiral wire, The engagement of the opposite sides of the two turns of the spiral wire enclosed within an offset is maintained because the two offsets are kept securely in overlaping position by the special form of the overlapping offsets relative to the spiral wire as already described.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a spring assembly, a pair of coiled springs each having an outwardly offset portion with said offset portions arranged opposite to each other and in overlapping engagement with each other and a spiral wire extending between said springs and threaded upon the overlapping pair of offset portions and forming a hinged connect on between said springs, the interior diameter of said spiral wire being more than twice the diameter of the wire of the coiled springs, each of the said oii'set portions being intermediate its length extended outwardly relative to the axis of its spring so that its middle part en- 1 gages the inner surface of the half'of the spiral that is farther from the axis of the spring having said offset and with the parts of the said offset near its opposite ends engaging the half of the spiral that is nearer to the axis of said spring whereby both oil'- sets are retained in their originally-assembled overlapping position, one offset of a joint spanning more turns of the spiral wire than the other oifset whereby said opposing ofi'sets and their springs are held in central alignment by the spiral wire.

2. In asprin structure; the combination of a plurality rows of coiled springs with the s rings in adjoining rows oppositely dispose and provided with ofi'set portions in 5 overlapping engagement with each other and a spiral wire extending between each pair ofadjoining rows of springs" and threaded upon the several pairs of said over-lapping 0 set portions and forming a hin e connec- 1 tion between the springs,the interlor diameter 'ofsaid spiral wire being more than twice the diameter of the wire of the coiled springs, each of the said offset portions being in; termediate its length extended outwardly relative to the axis of its spring so that its middle part engages the inner surface of the half of the spiral that is farther from the axis of the spring having said offset, with the parts of the said offset near its opposite ends enga 'ng the half of the spiral that is nearer to t c axis of said spring, spaced turns of said spiral wire being located within each ofiset and close to the end parts ofsaid offset ortions, whereby both offsets of each over apping pair are retained in their origi- Dally-assembled position and the successive pairs of springs of each two adjoining rows of springs are held from movement lengthwiseof said spiral wire, each ofiset of a pair of ofiset'portions spanning a plurality of turns of the spiral wire and with one offset of a pair spanning more turns of the spiral wire than the other offset whereby the opposing oflsetsand their springs are held central alignment by the spiral wire.

, v In witness whereof I, have aflixed my signature, this 21st day of December, 1929.

WILLIAM B. FOSTER. 

